Ontario government agency Metrolink has submitted a €355 million order to Alstom for 61 Citadis Spirit light rail vehicles.

The vehicles will be used in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area and have been designed to operate in Canada’s extreme temperatures – which can be as low as -38°C – with reinforced insulation, a snow plow and powerful heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

The 48-metre Citadis Spirit can operate at speeds of more than 100km/h and has a passenger capacity of 321 with a 100 per cent low-floor that offers easy accessibility.

Alstom Canada’s managing director, Angelo Guercioni, said: “We are proud to continue our collaboration with Metrolinx as it seeks to link communities and deliver advanced public transit solutions to the greater Toronto area, and we are honoured by their renewed confidence in our products, solutions and teams.”

There is an option in the contract for Metrolink to order additional vehicles in the future.